HOCKEY:WHILE IT was expected that several big names would shuffle out of the Irish Senior Cup this weekend, few knew who would actually head for the exit door. As it unfolded last year's champions, Cookstown, are out of the competition as are Annadale, Three Rock Rovers, Cork C of I and Monkstown, who were finalists in the last three years.
Monkstown finished their match at Rathdown 2-2 before it went to penalties, where Pembroke advanced to the last eight, while Three Rock Rovers, courtesy of five goals from Railway Union, also perished.
Up north, Hugh McShane and Ross McCandless netted twice for Banbridge in their visit to Coolnafranky and while Cookstown, hit a goal back through Greg Allen, it wasn’t enough.
At Garryduff, C of I would so much have liked to take out one of the big names in the competition Lisnagarvey. The match fell on the same day as the one-year anniversary of Andrew Chambers, the 31-year-old home player who tragically collapsed and could not be revived on the pitch at Garryduff immediately prior to the club’s Irish Senior Cup clash with Kilkeel last year. But it was not to be for the home side as ’Garvey hit four goals to just two in reply.
Two goals from Peter Bleakney were not enough to save the skin of Three Rock Rovers against Railway, who have been prospering the last few seasons.
Now an Irish Cup quarter-final is just reward for the Park Avenue side, who spread their goals evenly, Peter English, Richie Forrest, Fiachra Maher, Jeremy Duncan and Rob Abbot hit one each in the 5-2 win.
Two goals from Gary Shaw and one from Jonathon Kane were enough for Glenanne to advance against UCD. It was not all Glenanne’s way, though, as the students netted one goal through Shane Nolan for 3-1.
Meanwhile Avoca have amassed an eight-point lead at the top of Leinster Senior League Division Two with a sixth successive victory, this time over Mullingar. The Blackrock club coached by former international, Mark Cullen, hit four goals to no reply, Aussie Seán Walsh netting two Martin Naughton and Peter Haughton grabbing one each.
